Farm-to-table, beautiful interior, and yet... The composition of my meal wasn't quite where it should be for a place this classy/pricy. I had the potato gnocchi and a side of sauteed mushrooms. The gnocchi came with a substitution not listed on the menu, which was my first disappointment, because I love Brussels sprouts and I'm not really a fan of carrots, yet the Brussels sprouts on the menu turned into carrots on my plate, with no warning from my server. The composition problem is mainly in the textures: they paired light and pillowy gnocchi with the chew of various root vegetables, where I think a crunch (of nuts, or crisply fried Brussels sprouts, for example) would have made more sense. The sauteed mushrooms were good, but I was expecting something a little more exciting than mushrooms I can easily cook myself (maybe a punchy sauce or pickled veggie on top) for $8. But again, the space is beautiful, and the service was very friendly, so it's probably a good date spot. Just go with moderate food expectations.
(3)
Alex G.
Excellent farm to table place, I had the root vegetables wrapped in bacon to start. It's the end of root vegetable season, so it's not on the menu much longer. I also had the duck special, roasted duck breast with cherries served with fingerlings and gnocchi. Ended with the Creme Brulee. Everything was tasty it's a culinary jewel in Blo-No. The starter came with probably 16 wrapped veggies, I was worried about finishing everything. My friend I was eating with helped me out and I was able to enjoy everything. Started with an old fashioned which was a little sweet with Demerara syrup but still balanced.
(5)
Jason S.
We had our wedding reception upstairs. Bottom-line, it was wonderful. The food was fantastic, guests are still talking about it (almost a year later). The staff and management were friendly and thoughtful in providing assistance in our planning and in adding the small elements that really made us smile. I think this is probably one of the best restaurants you will find in the Bloomington-Normal area, that is saying something considering that there are a lot of restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area and I have been to many. It is locally owned and operated which is a plus in my book. The reason I am giving this 4, instead of five stars is that there were some general organizational concerns. The most glaring being that when we drove down for what we discussed would be a tasting, we not only had to wait an hour for someone to show up, but there was no food for us to taste. If I was more type-A, we probably would have lost our minds, but we had eaten in the restaurant before and trusted the food for our event would be of the same high-quality and it was! Now, to add this was in October of 2013 and there were some transitional issues that the business was experiencing that have hopefully since been resolved. I did want to, however, explain why I went with 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)
Mike A.
This was the perfect choice for a Father's Day Eve dinner with my wife and son. My wife had a steak, John had scallops and I indulged myself with the lamb shank. The steak was bacon wrapped, sliced and cooked to perfection. John's scallops were also exceptional.... done properly and not rubbery. The lamb shank was awesome. Slow braised with a great sauce to complement. Of course, true to their farm to table approach, the veggies really added to each plate. This was without a doubt the best meal I've had in BloNo. Epiphany Farms does it well.
(5)
Chelsea W.
This is my first time at Epiphany Farms, and I wish I had come here for dinner sooner. I had the spicy salmon sushi and chicken pesto pizza. Both were phenomenal! Best meal I've ever had in Bloomington-Normal.
(5)
Steve M.
Best restaurant in Bloomington Normal and many will not believe it is on my all time best list after eating in many great restaurants in San Francisco, NYC, DC, LA, Portland, and Seattle. The servers are all amazing. Brian is the best server and a true professional who is excited about the menu and serving you! The food is so good and the chefs bring a great artistic vision to their food. Farm fresh is something I would like to eat every day at Epiphany. I highly recommend Epiphany.
(5)
Libby K.
I visit Epiphany Farms as often as I am able! The service is always fantastic! The wait staff are helpful and knowledgeable and genuinely seem to love their job! I have ordered the five or seven course "blind" meals with wine pairing every time I visit. Tonight's meal had the creativity and excellence I have come to expect from the chefs! The soft crab soup and duck/mushroom ravioli courses were literally indescribable! I look forward to my next experience!
(5)
Liz W.
Amazing!!! We got two of the dishes I remember from the original Station 220--scallops and Korean Bulgogi. I was pleased that the scallops were offered as a half portion, so it was more affordable and left me more room for other dishes! The pork belly wrap appetizer was new and SO tasty-- it's my new favorite appetizer for sure. The bread was perfect. The house vinegarette dressing on the field greens salad was so delicious, I want to suggest selling it by the bottle--I would have salad every day at home if I had that dressing!! Overall I would recommend EFR to anyone visiting Bloomington--make sure to make a reservation b/c it gets packed!! Thank you to Chef Ken and everyone on the team for making my first EFR experience so memorable. We will definitely be back!!
(5)
Vivian L.
Food is good and pretty. It is a nice place for a date, although the food is quite pricey. But it's a classy place! I had scallops and it was good (can't say great..) although the portion was quite tiny. I did like the bread they served us, it has a bit of variety. Our waitress was very nice though and chatted with us, explaining a little about the farm owned by the owners of the restaurant. Definitely recommend trying out, especially for date night!
(4)
Barb C.
Dakota and Mike gave us an evening to remember. We had the "taste" 7 course chef special highlighting the best of their menu. Mike shared wonderful wine pairings with each delightful course. It was a world class dinning experience in Bloomington.
(5)
Ed Y.
I'm from out of town. This may be the best restaurant in Bloomington, but please keep the frame of reference in mind. I had a tasting menu with wine pairings. It was pricey for Bloomington at $100. The food was ok. The flavors/textures most often dont work. Each flavor is good, often great, but the combinations on the plate generally compliment each other. For example, there was an appetizer of pulled pork which was deep fried and had smoked salmon atop it. I think if youre going to deep fry something, the contents better have some strong flavor because the frying is going to mask a lot of flavor. Mild pulled pork was overwhelmed by the frying. The gravalax did not add anything. A main course of tri-tip beef was ok in taste, but not very interesting in texture. The best part of the dish was the daikon radishes. The chefs are trying hard here, but need more finesse. The wine was excellent. The wait staff is good, but on my night, they were stressed. The wine pairings did not come out with the dishes so sometimes I was done with my course before the wine came out. They constantly mispronounced dishes, locations, etc. Overall, I like the restaurant and their effort in farm to table approach. I would go back to support their effort and note their progress. But the sophisticated palate needs to have the right perspective.
Busy restaurant that has beautiful inside as far as furnishings. The food was very good, but unfortunately we were very disappointed in the service. They had lost our reservation but we were seated within a reasonable time frame. Our dinner was for a special occasion and wine was ordered and neither were available. The food tasting special could also only be done if all parties were willing to order it. We ordered salad and received them in good time but our meals came out at the same time. Our waiter lacked professionalism and was condescending. It is important to be kind and cordial but to also be mature and grounded in your interactions. We could not wait to get out of the restaurant and have dessert somewhere else. We really like the upstairs restaurant but will not be going back to Epiphany due to the service.
(3)
Dave S.
This is the best restaurant between Chicago and St. Louis, and I'm guessing would be in the top 5% in those cities. Trained, talent, honest-to-god chefs put their techniques, inventiveness, and love of creating killer flavors from the freshest ingredients all at your service. The deserved national acclaim they're beginning to receive may mean that the days of being able to walk in any evening and order a 7-course chef's tasting menu, (with or without wine pairing), may be numbered. But if you want a "sometimes it doesn't suck to be a grown-up" dining experience, go do that. Served by an attractive, knowledgeable and attentive staff, this is dining you won't get elsewhere within 120 miles; a couple hours of chefs using their imaginations and unique skills to honor vegetables, herbs, and proteins they've raised themselves, and to honor your wish to experience and celebrate the food as well. It's just really, really good.
(5)
John C.
This is just about the best dining experience you can have in Bloomington Normal. Super service and the menu is so unique. Highly recommend the nested egg salad to start.
(5)
Crystal F.
The food is delicious and it's great to know where it's coming from. I've been out to the farm and even met some of the people who work there and in the restaurant. The service is tremendous as well. It's often a quiet atmosphere for dinner on week nights. And they make the best cocktails in town!
(5)
Julia S.
This place always makes you happy. Service is amazing, food is always perfect. It's farm to fork. We started with mixed greens, nested eggs and pickled veggies. Then we each tried a different entree. I tried everyones and they all were cooked with perfection. Duck with risotto, chicken, teriyaki steak and homemade pasta. I don't know any other place in Bloomington/Normal that will take the time or that know how to make homemade pasta. I would like to see them incorporate fruit that is in season into pies.
(5)
Mark And Connie D.
Had another wonderful meal Epiphany Farms last night. The cucumber and goat cheese salad may have been the best I've ever tasted (and I am not a big cucumber eater). Such amazing flavors! The pulled pork and broccoli was exceptional. Service was very much on par with the quality of the food.
(5)
Z Z.
wow. shared a mix of plates: butternut squash soup (poured at the table)YUM, Korean bbq chicken appetizer (big portion, saved and repurposed with a home cooked meal the following night!), spinach vegetable pasta (a few single wide noodles). ALL three dishes were out of this world. You can taste the farm fresh culinary awesomeness that goes into their dishes. I had a champagne cocktail that was refreshing and a great compliment to our winter veggie dishes -- my main squeeze had a manhattan with a huge ball of ice,(similar to his own death star at home ice sphere maker) that they brought a fresh cocktail to the table and poured another cocktail. Service is the best in the industry -- friendly, offer informative suggestions, water always filled up (essential for proper water to cocktail ratio up keeping). Can't wait to go back in the spring as their menu changes with the season to stay true to what IS in growing season. love love love. ONLY suggestion is more veggie dishes that are not pasta. GO THERE NOW, silly! If you are like me, I only like to spend hard earned money for meals I cannot replicate at home and/or want to treat myself.
(5)
Tim B.
First of all due to business I have to eat out a lot, not bragging about that just saying I have sampled everything in the Bloomington Illinois area. When I want to take my wife or a client someplace special I choose Epiphany Farms. As several folks have stated the food is excellent. I appreciate the ever changing fresh menu and the bar service is awesome. However, for my money it is not the food as much as the excellent service. The folks at EF are very well trained and passionate about their product. Always able to suggest the perfect wine, after dinner scotch, or desert. The last time my wife and I visited I asked the waiter to just bring us a desert that we would like......no regrets! Mike is one of our favorite waiters, but they are all awesome. If you do not eat out much and need a special experience, or you want dinner to be an event, you can't go wrong with EF.
(5)
R G.
I met a couple of coworkers here. I had the pulled pork shoulder and it was really good, the serving was a little small, but I really liked it. The staff was very friendly and service was efficient.
(5)
Peggy B.
I can't wait to go back to Epiphany Farms! It was without a doubt the best dining experience in the area! Food,staff and ambience were all exceptional! Our party of three dined happily on Scallops, Lamb Shank and Steak after thoroughly enjoying a delicious tomato and cucumber salad! Our server, wish I could remember his name, was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Epiphany Farms is a most welcome change from the multitude of chain restaurants! It will be nice to enjoy this level of dining without traveling to Chicago or Saint Louis!
(5)
Jason T.
Service was very informative and mostly attentive. We went the BYO route as the wine list, while well curated, didn't have anything that currently jumped out at me. Corkage was very fair - $10 per bottle. We had two appetizers that were both great - the pork belly wraps and the roasted root veggies wrapped in bacon. The pork belly had tremendous flavor and a great consistency. The root vegetables were roasted perfectly, and contrasted against the crunch of the bacon. Our entrees were nice. One was great; the day's pork preparation was pork in pierogi. The pork was so tender and flavorful, and all the accompaniments accented it beautifully. The duck was good but less stellar. The duck itself was nice, and really worked well with the vegetables it was served with. However the dish could have really benefited from a bit of brightness; i.e. a pickle of some sort of perhaps a sauce with a touch of citrus or vinegar. As it was it was a bit heavy. We did however order a side of the pickled vegetables and that saved the day. My one pet peeve was service slowed down a bit later in the meal, and in fact the dessert drink I ordered showed up well after the dessert, which should never happen. That said, I'm very excited about Epiphany Farms. It's easily the best restaurant in all of the Bloomington-Normal area. The restaurant is really trying to achieve a level of service we just don't see anywhere else in town, the food is tremendous, and the wine list is looked great as well.
Food and service was amazing. Had Pork (which they raise on their own farm) three ways, with the very freshest of vegetables. I would highly recommend!
(5)
Jim O.
This is the best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal, hands down. My wife and I have been going here for special meals since it was called "Station 220". I'm glad they decided to rename and promote the fact they're farm-to-fork. The way I see it, this place IS a farm with a classy veneer that happens to be run by exceedingly talented and creative chefs who want to invite you in and show you what a farm is capable of. If you could see the amount of love they put into cultivating and transforming this food, you'd be amazed. While you generally get what you pay for when it comes to food, everyone has had over-priced meals at seemingly good restaurants. This is not that. This is expensive to be sure, but right-priced. In fact, my wife and I had our most expensive meal here a few years back. It was Valentine's day and we attended for the special Valentine's Day 8-course tasting meal. It was a wonderful, 2.5 hour experience full of right-portioned and exciting food. My wife enjoyed the wine pairings (the 20+ year-aged tawny port was especially good), I had cocktails because I'm more of a craft beer and whisky guy myself. It was worth every penny. Can't recommend this place enough. Their sister restaurant, Anju Above, is also well worth your time, but that's another review.
(5)
Ted W.
Brian, our server, knowledgeably lead us through choices of cuisine and spirits. He was less of a waiter and more of a raconteur, spinning tales of how this was raised and how that was aged. We probably bought more items then necessary based on his recommendation. My wife started out with an old fashioned with Bookers whiskey. It smelled marvelous. We sampled the croissants with the squash soup (a pairing Brian suggested). I had the Epiphany pork feature which was a fork tender pork filet with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin accompanied by root veggies. At Brian's suggestion I added the mushrooms, a mix of crimini and oyster with a dash of red wine. My wife sampled the beef filet paired with the scallops. The scallops were divine, subtle, tender, perfectly cooked. We ended with the chocolate mousse and angel food cake. I've seen some complaints that this isn't the best restaurant in Chicago or NYC. They are absolutely correct. This is on par with an establishment like Chi-town's perennial virant.
(5)
Katie B.
There is no other restaurant like this in Bloomington. The menu is fresh and inspired. The unique dishes fulfill in flavor. The quality and taste of the food is excellent and they have a full drink menu. Great for a special occasion or nice dinner out.
(5)
Joe H.
Best restaurant in Bloomington hands down. I recently dined in and loved my whole experience. Warm greeting right when you walk in the door makes you feel at home. Ordered the Rock Shrimp Tempura and loved every bite! It was not overly greasy and didn't have an over powering batter taste. Fresh tomato and cucumber salad from the farm was another highlight of the night. Finished off my meal with the seared scallops that were cooked to perfection. Combined with the risotto it was an amazing dish. I can't get over how great the food and service were. This is the place to go if you want to have a great culinary experience. Saw some table side demonstrations in the dining room as well. I will be back for more farm to fork!
Love this place! Fine food and great service. Brian is our favorite server...we always ask for him. Recommend the cornflake chicken wings...
(5)
Doug F.
Decided to try this place based on a recommendation from a friend who went there when it was called Station Two Twenty. Made a reservation for 7:30, but the table wasn't ready until 8. They were accommodating through and let us put appetizer order in ahead of time to be ready when we were finally seated. Overall the food was delicious. For appetizers we got the seared tuna, the picnic platter, and tempura. Everyone was hesitant on the picnic platter as many of us didn't know what to expect with the different textures of meat, but in the end enjoyed it. For the main course I ordered the whole duck, which I was told consisted of a wing and thigh. When the meal came out it looked like one small piece so I asked the waiter and sure enough that was the whole meal. They should change their menu from whole duck to whole duck-ling cause that would be more appropriate. I would go back and try another meal, but for now 3 stars.
(3)
Charles D.
Recently had dinner with friends at Epiphany Farms in Bloomington, IL, and WOW was it an experience. Not only was the food fresh and delicious, but our server 'Mike' was probably the best server I have ever had in a restaurant setting. I would HIGHLY recommend Epiphany Farms to anyone in the Bloomington/Normal area looking for excellent food, excellent service, and all together a great dining experience. They will certainly have my business again! Cheers!
(5)
Jon N.
Everything about his place is outstanding...food, drink (Manhattan's) and ambiance. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Paige R.
What a pleasant surprise getting to dine at the restaurant! When I traveled to Bloomington for business, I was dismayed that the city seemed to only have "chain" restaurants in the farmlands of America. Then, I came across this fine establishment where the food served is grown and raised on a farm nearby! It was one of the most memorable meals that I have ever had. The gazpacho was divine and the beef tasted like pure beef. The flowers used as garnishment made it even more special. I knew that I was in for a treat when the servers said that everything on the menu was delicious and that I couldn't go wrong. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and made each dish that they described sound exciting and a must have. I sure hope that my company sends me back to Bloomington!
(5)
Deborah F.
We highly recommend dining at Epiphany Farms Restaurant. The food is amazing, and as fresh as you will ever get. The employees are some of the warmest, nicest people I've ever met. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. All the servers are excellent, but we are especially fond of Mike. His knowledge of wine is extensive and always knows what to pair with our food. The chefs/owners often send something unexpected to the table as a little treat, and stop by the table to chat with the patrons. Go and enjoy this wonderful restaurant, you will not be disappointed!
From the moment I stepped into Epiphany Farms, I knew I was in for a dining experience. The service throughout the entire meal was fantastic and the food was even better! After being greeted and seated, my friend and I were given an overview of the menu and the restaurant's primary objective, to bring farm fresh ingredients to the table in new and exciting ways. Our server, Mike, then suggested that we try an assortment of dishes and share them to get the full experience. We began with the Crab Oscar and the Eggplant Zucchini. Both arrived at the same time, and I must say, were beautifully plated. The Eggplant was my favorite of the two. It was basically a deconstructed vegetable lasagna. For our main courses, we chose the scallops with risotto, kale, lemon foam, and carrots and the lamb shank with couscous. The lamb shank was HUGE and the meat fell right off the bone. Scallops were cooked perfectly which, from my experiences with seafood in this town, is not something that many restaurants are capable of. The manager came to ask about our experience and told us more about the restaurant/farm. He then told us we must try the corn soup, and I'm glad he convinced us. It was light and sweet and refreshing after such flavorful entrees. The flourless chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and blueberries and a scoop of ice cream with crushed peanuts may have converted me from a savory food lover to a sweet one. It was the perfect end to the meal. I am still dreaming of this dessert! Hands down the best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal. I will be going back again, and again, and again!
(5)
Azsure D.
We had a very enjoyable experience at Epiphany Farms. I highly recommend dining at this restaurant featuring some locally sourced and sustainable options. Staff is exemplary (they seem to hire and well represent diversity- a big plus in my book). The food is creative and artfully presented. While this is one of the priciest locations in the Bloomington-Normal area, the prices are well justified and truly not that bad for the fare involved. My husband and I enjoyed Friday evening dining out on the patio- it was a stunning night! We went for the 7 course tasting menu and we were not sorry! Each course was amazing. We started with honeydew sorbet as an amuse bouche. Followed by a delightful salad with fresh greens that weren't too bitter. The soup was my absolute favorite- the cauliflower veloute was like velvet in my mouth. We had a scallop risotto next, followed by duck confit, then a beef serving. We had two desserts- a chocoloate mint macaron with a shooter of lemonade, followed by strawberrry shortcake with just made creme fraiche. I was stuffed but I ate every last bite! And it was worth it. They don't have a lot of vegetarian options, and the ones they have are mushroom heavy. I recommend with all those root vegetables they look at expaneding their vegetarian menu. They have a GREAT draft beer selection (always important in my book!). I eat out a lot with my travels. It is so great to come back home and still enjoy the ability to dine with such exquisite options!
(5)
Carol D.
Really wonderful food and service. Everything is as local as possible The kids menu quotes "the Omnivores Delma"!
(5)
Amy H.
I can't believe we haven't eaten here before. My sister is in town from Phoenix and had found the restaurant through online reviews. My husband and I don't eat out often but we were completely wowed by the food last night. After a nice large chilled water bottle was set on the table we received fresh fruit bread with butter. We began with the Nested Egg - a really crisp outer phyllo later over a soft cooked egg. That was presented over the half order Field Greens. We really studied the flavors as the strawberry vinaigrette was a nice light dressing that we both would love to duplicate at home. My sister ordered the pulled pork shoulder - served over cornbread (the only real "heavy" food item) which also had roasted vegetables on the side. Hubby ordered the duck breast which we all sampled. The "sweet potato" was a mashed purple potato - turned out to be a nice presentation, so different than anything we had experienced. Also had the scallops on the side which were presented over a bit of cooked kale & turnips. I opted for the beet salad with hanger steak. The flavors were so bright, the steak was cooked just as I requested - medium rare. Even though we were full we did cave in and ordered the dessert of a gluten free coco genache that had coconut ice cream on the side...oh so good It's so nice to know that most all of our food was grown locally
(5)
Nancy A.
This was honestly one my top 10 meals....ever!!! We reserved a table 7 to celebrate my daughter's IWU graduation. We were seated quickly and the server immediately introduced himself. We ordered a bottle of bubbly and wine after which he provided appetizer and dinner suggestions. We ordered quite a few appetizers and each one was delicious. Everything was beautifully presented and delicious. The dinners were amazing. My mother kept saying it was the best meal of her life! I cannot believe a place of this high caliber is in Bloomington. My only regret is that we didn't discover it until graduation weekend! Perfect little restaurant.
(5)
Samantha G.
This is my favorite restaurant in town. Try the corn flake chicken - you won't be disappointed. The service is a little slow, but the food makes up for it!
(5)
Margaret B.
Fantastic meal!! Visiting from New York. One of the best meals I ever had. Would highly recommend this farm to table - they are obviously passionate about the food.
This farm-to-table place is amazing, and I wish I could give more than 5 stars!!! Found it solely based on excellent Yelp reviews (thanks, Yelpers!), and Epiphany Farms exceeded my already high expectations. There are only a handful of restaurants of this caliber in this country. This is now on my top 5 restaurant list (and I am a food snob who lives in Los Angeles, haha). Every dish is prepared with utmost care (the chef must have the most delicate palate!). My husband and I split the Bacon Wrapped Bistro Filets (that came with insanely delicious potatoes gratin). The meat was very delicate & flavorful, one of the best I have ever had. We also had field greens salad (fantastic house-made dressing!) and pork dumpling soup (my husband said it was the best dumpling he's ever had). Loved the wine selection. We had a glass of the Red Blend from Monterey, CA (a GSM blend), and a glass of a Paso Robles cabernet. If only we had room for dessert, we would have gotten their chocolate soufle. And, almost forgot! Most ingredients come from their own farm (where you can take a tour - I so wish we were in town on a Saturday when they do these tours!) and they even mill their own grains and make their own bread - OUTSTANDING!! To sum up: I am a fan (can't you tell?). The decor & the vibe, the attentive staff and attention to detail makes this place very special. A gem. Prices are very reasonable. We need more places like this, not only in Central Illinois, but everywhere. P.S. We tried to come back the next day for early lunch and ended up at Anju Above (which was also outstanding). Love supporting places like this. Yay for Epiphany Farms!!
(5)
Bonnie H.
What a great restaurant. The food was wonderful. It is a good place to eat. My filet was awesome. Great atmosphere to. I would highly recommend it.
(5)
Pete R.
Nobody does what these people do on a nightly basis food or drink-wise in this town. When you factor in the farm-to-table aspect, it's really not really even close. I would definitely start with Epiphany Farms, but as I alluded to in that review, they are doing some unique things upstairs at Anjou Above too. The best part is that you can get either menu (incl beer and wine) at both places!
(4)
Chris P.
Epiphany Farms might be the best restaurant in the Bloomington-Normal area. I give it a solid 9.6 out of 10. The service is world class and the staff is highly trained. The chefs are supremely talented and have put genuine thought into their offerings. The menu is well balanced but not for the rustic palate as many of its offerings deliver robust but complex flavors. The menu is one of the more expensive in the area at about $30-$60 per person. There is even a tasting menu at $76 and can be paired with wine for for an additional $34 for you true foodies. Despite the price tag, I promise you get what you pay for. (Details to follow) Our primary server (Mike) was a true master of his craft. He was knowledgeable, courteous, and friendly. The rest of the front of the house was impeccable from the pre-bussing, the expediter who presents each course, and the other staff. One minor misstep is that one of the other servers spilled some water when she bumped by girlfriend's glass (a minor point) The wine list is extensive and well paired, but we did not partake. We ordered the smoked bacon and roots (date glazed bacon wrapped root vegetables) as our appetizer and it did not disappoint. The bacon was cooked well but not crispy, and the carrots were cooked perfectly with just slight firmness but still soft. I believe the other root was turnip and it was perfectly soft and did not carry any bite. The chef also sent out a complementary plate of their Asian fusion Corn Flake chicken tenders, probably due to my beautiful date. The tenders were perfectly fork tender and breaded to perfection. The breading was light and crispy and with no oily residue. The sweet and sour sauce placed on the plate and gently over the chicken was perfectly in proportion and didn't mess the plate. The sauce was a perfect balance of a pineapple reduction and red chili paste or Siracha. I also ordered the pork dumpling soup. The dish is served with dumplings and vegetables (poached radish) in the bowl and the expediter poured the broth (fortified beef I believe) table side. The ground pork shoulder in the dumpling is robust and very flavorful. The noodle of the dumpling was either slightly under-cooked or a bit old as the noodle did not cut easily with a spoon and made the soup difficult to eat (another minor point). The beef broth was flavorful and but clean and was a great pallet cleanser. The complimentary bread also brought a standard dining staple to another level. There were two offerings for bread this evening. The first offering was a subtle honey wheat, and the other as a dried cranberry. Both were served with a seasoned whipped butter and they paired perfectly together. I ordered the full size confit duck leg (also came in 1/2 portion). The leg was presented with sauteed Brussels sprouts and bacon, and roasted heirloom potatoes all in the same bowl. When all of the following items are combined onto the same fork, the resulting mouthful produces a profound impact of flavor that redefines what food can be in the region. The duck was decadently rich, soft, and slightly greasy (as all duck can be). The flavor profile of the duck was sweet, peppery, and is unmatched in the area; my mouth waters just writing about it three hours after the fact. My only complaint with the duck is that there was a small portion of the thigh where the fat didn't render making that piece of skin inedible but the piece was so small that I wouldn't say it deterred from the dish. My date ordered the half portion of scallops served with risotto, farm carrots, and topped with tamarind foam (a rare sight in central Illinois). Admittedly, I am not a big fan of tamarind as it can go from weak to overpowering quickly. However, the foam provided the perfect amount of flavor without over-seasoning any single portion. The carrots and risotto were cooked perfectly but were otherwise unremarkable. My only complaint with the dish comes from the freshness of the scallops as they carried a subtle fishy flavor (probably undetectable except to the most discerning pallet). My date also ordered a side of sauteed mushrooms. The mushrooms were sauteed with red wine vinegar and olive oil. The mushrooms were plentiful and are easily shared. The were cooked perfectly, but not game changing. Desert included a fresh berry and creme tartelette. The desert was flavorful and almost too beautiful to eat. The cream was smooth and rich and the berries were perfectly ripe, but the crust of the tartelette was cold and didn't easily yield to a spoon. Ultimately, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and we look forward to bringing friends.
(5)
Jean-Paul M.
One of the best meals I've had in Bloomington. I said the same thing the last time I was here. We had the Bruschetta, Corn Flake Chicken (omfg), tomato/cucumber salad and Korean wraps. Everything was super delicious. The service was fantastic. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable and other waiters would make a point to stop by our table to ensure our experience was outstanding. Lastly, the drinks. This place knows how to make a bitchin' Old Fashioned. While this is a simple and classic drink, it's amazing how many bartenders goof this up. To boot, they recalled a drink from several menus ago for my wife. Bonus points. My favorite restaurant in BloNo.
(5)
Lisa M.
Nothing bad to say at all. Impeccable food, great drinks, wonderful ambiance. Loved it when it was Stn 220, love it even more as Epiphany. Grab a creme brulee, it's fantastic. Also recommend the small plates - the kimchi pancakes are finger licking good. Pro tip - head over to their farm for a tour! Lots of cute little piglets :D
(5)
Hanna R.
We were passing through on our way to St. Louis from Chicago, we got in quick without reservation, the food was wonderful with a great story of how the restaurant began. Great atmosphere with live music and friendly hosts. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and worked great around my food allergies. Fantastic place I would definitely go back if I had the chance!
(5)
Jessica S.
Friend, family, coworker, vendor in from out of town? You take them here and only here. Long day? Long week? Want to eat something fantabulous and not feel guilty about it? You go here and only here. Chicago quality tasting menu at a more affordable price point! Take the risk (it's not that risky when it's this good) and do it. The menu changes each season so you must go at least once every 3 months to try the new stuff. Nearly all of it comes from their own farm! They have rotating craft beers available and a big wine selection. If not the tasting menu, you must order the following: - soup. any of them. you had no idea broth could be that good. - salad. any of them. yes with a nested egg. It can't be explained, only devoured. - cornflake chicken appetizer. best korean BBQ sauce around. - the pork feature. no matter what it is. - any of their seafood. i only trust a few places in town when it comes to ocean swimmers and this is the best. So when you decide to go, be sure to call me and invite me to join you!
(5)
Marlene H.
The first word that came to mind when I saw these meals tonight: ART! To follow after I tried them: ORGASMIC! This is seriously the best restaurant I have ever eaten at - seriously!!!!! The service was impeccable. Mike was so knowledgeable! Totally farm to table at its best!
(5)
Lynn W.
If I had posted my review from my first experience back in June, it would have been 5 stars, but based on my experience this week I have to give it three stars. Let me start by saying both times the food was very good! The first time better than the second, but still very good. However, the service on my most recent visit with completely sub-par. It took over 1 hour from the time we ordered for main meal delivery. It took longer than it should to get our initial drink order. And our waiter didn't see hurried or worried and never once apologized for the delay. I think we were in the place for 2 hours and we didn't even order dessert. When we arrived at 6:15 the place was hardly busy at all, waiters and waitresses just standing around and only a couple people at the bar. The people removing dishes and filling water glasses were extremely prompt and courteous. But again, our waiter was not very efficient, nor apologetic. He also had tables inside and outside the place, which to me is not great planning by management. I would probably give it a try again, but after the menu changes. The August menu was not as appealing as the June menu we had. Atmosphere is nice and the fact is isn't a chain is a big draw.
(3)
John G.
**EDIT** Waiters name was Kent. Excellent at his job. Overall, One of the best experiences I have ever had.. The beginning started off rocky. As I walked in the bartender yelled over to me "can I help you?".. Granted I came in before they were open (by 10 minutes). I was promptly seated and provided water and fresh bread, I don't know how water can taste different but it also was exceptional. The waiter came next and explained to me the menu and the restaurant philosophy. Farm to Fork. Exactly the type of place I was looking for. I ordered the heirloom carrots and duck leg. I had some specific questions about how it was prepared and the waiter had all the answers I needed. While I waited for the food I looked around at the decor. It is a wonderful combination of a rural barn type setting with a more upscale setting. Food arrived promptly and it was fabulous! For one person, drinking water, with an entree and separate side the bill was approximately $32.00. Money well spent. I would return, will return, and will be bringing others with me next time I am in Central Illinois.
(5)
Rustin F.
I had better food at Epiphany Farms than I've had at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York. Unfortunately, the service wasn't quite five star. I came with my parents for Epiphany Farms' New Year's Eve tasting menu and party. We had a reservation for 9 p.m., mostly so we would be the last seating and be able to keep our table until midnight. Unfortunately, they must have underestimated how long people would stay; we weren't seated until after 9:30 p.m., and then in a somewhat detached, under-decorated back room from where we couldn't hear the band. We chose to do the five course tasting menu, instead of the eight course one, and everything we got was tasty and beautifully presented. They hadn't told us what would be on the menu when we reserved, so it was a bit of a leap of faith, but there wasn't a single unenjoyable course. I particularly enjoyed the deconstructed rocky road ice cream. By the time we finished our meals, we were full. Unfortunately, considering how late we were eating dinner--including the delay in being seated--we were hungry most of the meal, though that may have made the food taste better. That brings me back to the service. Being so hungry, we asked early in our meal if they had any sides or appetizers we could order. No, our waitress said, the kitchen was only making the set menu that night. "How about bread?" we asked. There'd be bread with the soup course, she responded, but they didn't have enough to bring additional bread at the beginning of our meal. They ended up forgetting the bread with our soup, and we had to ask again, again to be told that they couldn't give any "more" bread before realizing that we hadn't received any bread at all, at which point we received one croissant per person. I generally got the sense that our waitress didn't want to be there; she wasn't rude but absent. I actually had trouble catching her to order coffee with my dessert. There was another waiter who helped deliver the food, and he was upbeat and very professional in both the physical presentation of the dishes--the soup course, for instance, came as a bowl with just a few pieces of carrots and ginger in the center around which he ladled the soup from a separate, much larger bowl at the table--and in describing them. At the end of our meal, we moved into the main dining room to get closer to the band, where we took our midnight champagne toast. Overall, it was an excellent, memorable meal. The food was truly world class, but the service came a little short. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Bloomington.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brianna B.
Farm-to-table, beautiful interior, and yet... The composition of my meal wasn't quite where it should be for a place this classy/pricy. I had the potato gnocchi and a side of sauteed mushrooms. The gnocchi came with a substitution not listed on the menu, which was my first disappointment, because I love Brussels sprouts and I'm not really a fan of carrots, yet the Brussels sprouts on the menu turned into carrots on my plate, with no warning from my server. The composition problem is mainly in the textures: they paired light and pillowy gnocchi with the chew of various root vegetables, where I think a crunch (of nuts, or crisply fried Brussels sprouts, for example) would have made more sense. The sauteed mushrooms were good, but I was expecting something a little more exciting than mushrooms I can easily cook myself (maybe a punchy sauce or pickled veggie on top) for $8. But again, the space is beautiful, and the service was very friendly, so it's probably a good date spot. Just go with moderate food expectations.
(3)Alex G.
Excellent farm to table place, I had the root vegetables wrapped in bacon to start. It's the end of root vegetable season, so it's not on the menu much longer. I also had the duck special, roasted duck breast with cherries served with fingerlings and gnocchi. Ended with the Creme Brulee. Everything was tasty it's a culinary jewel in Blo-No. The starter came with probably 16 wrapped veggies, I was worried about finishing everything. My friend I was eating with helped me out and I was able to enjoy everything. Started with an old fashioned which was a little sweet with Demerara syrup but still balanced.
(5)Jason S.
We had our wedding reception upstairs. Bottom-line, it was wonderful. The food was fantastic, guests are still talking about it (almost a year later). The staff and management were friendly and thoughtful in providing assistance in our planning and in adding the small elements that really made us smile. I think this is probably one of the best restaurants you will find in the Bloomington-Normal area, that is saying something considering that there are a lot of restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area and I have been to many. It is locally owned and operated which is a plus in my book. The reason I am giving this 4, instead of five stars is that there were some general organizational concerns. The most glaring being that when we drove down for what we discussed would be a tasting, we not only had to wait an hour for someone to show up, but there was no food for us to taste. If I was more type-A, we probably would have lost our minds, but we had eaten in the restaurant before and trusted the food for our event would be of the same high-quality and it was! Now, to add this was in October of 2013 and there were some transitional issues that the business was experiencing that have hopefully since been resolved. I did want to, however, explain why I went with 4 instead of 5 stars.
(4)Mike A.
This was the perfect choice for a Father's Day Eve dinner with my wife and son. My wife had a steak, John had scallops and I indulged myself with the lamb shank. The steak was bacon wrapped, sliced and cooked to perfection. John's scallops were also exceptional.... done properly and not rubbery. The lamb shank was awesome. Slow braised with a great sauce to complement. Of course, true to their farm to table approach, the veggies really added to each plate. This was without a doubt the best meal I've had in BloNo. Epiphany Farms does it well.
(5)Chelsea W.
This is my first time at Epiphany Farms, and I wish I had come here for dinner sooner. I had the spicy salmon sushi and chicken pesto pizza. Both were phenomenal! Best meal I've ever had in Bloomington-Normal.
(5)Steve M.
Best restaurant in Bloomington Normal and many will not believe it is on my all time best list after eating in many great restaurants in San Francisco, NYC, DC, LA, Portland, and Seattle. The servers are all amazing. Brian is the best server and a true professional who is excited about the menu and serving you! The food is so good and the chefs bring a great artistic vision to their food. Farm fresh is something I would like to eat every day at Epiphany. I highly recommend Epiphany.
(5)Libby K.
I visit Epiphany Farms as often as I am able! The service is always fantastic! The wait staff are helpful and knowledgeable and genuinely seem to love their job! I have ordered the five or seven course "blind" meals with wine pairing every time I visit. Tonight's meal had the creativity and excellence I have come to expect from the chefs! The soft crab soup and duck/mushroom ravioli courses were literally indescribable! I look forward to my next experience!
(5)Liz W.
Amazing!!! We got two of the dishes I remember from the original Station 220--scallops and Korean Bulgogi. I was pleased that the scallops were offered as a half portion, so it was more affordable and left me more room for other dishes! The pork belly wrap appetizer was new and SO tasty-- it's my new favorite appetizer for sure. The bread was perfect. The house vinegarette dressing on the field greens salad was so delicious, I want to suggest selling it by the bottle--I would have salad every day at home if I had that dressing!! Overall I would recommend EFR to anyone visiting Bloomington--make sure to make a reservation b/c it gets packed!! Thank you to Chef Ken and everyone on the team for making my first EFR experience so memorable. We will definitely be back!!
(5)Vivian L.
Food is good and pretty. It is a nice place for a date, although the food is quite pricey. But it's a classy place! I had scallops and it was good (can't say great..) although the portion was quite tiny. I did like the bread they served us, it has a bit of variety. Our waitress was very nice though and chatted with us, explaining a little about the farm owned by the owners of the restaurant. Definitely recommend trying out, especially for date night!
(4)Barb C.
Dakota and Mike gave us an evening to remember. We had the "taste" 7 course chef special highlighting the best of their menu. Mike shared wonderful wine pairings with each delightful course. It was a world class dinning experience in Bloomington.
(5)Ed Y.
I'm from out of town. This may be the best restaurant in Bloomington, but please keep the frame of reference in mind. I had a tasting menu with wine pairings. It was pricey for Bloomington at $100. The food was ok. The flavors/textures most often dont work. Each flavor is good, often great, but the combinations on the plate generally compliment each other. For example, there was an appetizer of pulled pork which was deep fried and had smoked salmon atop it. I think if youre going to deep fry something, the contents better have some strong flavor because the frying is going to mask a lot of flavor. Mild pulled pork was overwhelmed by the frying. The gravalax did not add anything. A main course of tri-tip beef was ok in taste, but not very interesting in texture. The best part of the dish was the daikon radishes. The chefs are trying hard here, but need more finesse. The wine was excellent. The wait staff is good, but on my night, they were stressed. The wine pairings did not come out with the dishes so sometimes I was done with my course before the wine came out. They constantly mispronounced dishes, locations, etc. Overall, I like the restaurant and their effort in farm to table approach. I would go back to support their effort and note their progress. But the sophisticated palate needs to have the right perspective.
(3)Amber H.
Amazing food! Our table had the sushi, filet minion, and the scallops - everything was perfect! Our waiter, Michael, was the sommelier and had great wine recommendations. For dessert we had the creme brûlée and angel food cake. So impressive! Everything is farm-to-table, fresh, local ingredients. They have a seven course wine pairing as well that we'll try next time. Best restaurant in Bloomington that I've been to.
(5)Leah H.
Busy restaurant that has beautiful inside as far as furnishings. The food was very good, but unfortunately we were very disappointed in the service. They had lost our reservation but we were seated within a reasonable time frame. Our dinner was for a special occasion and wine was ordered and neither were available. The food tasting special could also only be done if all parties were willing to order it. We ordered salad and received them in good time but our meals came out at the same time. Our waiter lacked professionalism and was condescending. It is important to be kind and cordial but to also be mature and grounded in your interactions. We could not wait to get out of the restaurant and have dessert somewhere else. We really like the upstairs restaurant but will not be going back to Epiphany due to the service.
(3)Dave S.
This is the best restaurant between Chicago and St. Louis, and I'm guessing would be in the top 5% in those cities. Trained, talent, honest-to-god chefs put their techniques, inventiveness, and love of creating killer flavors from the freshest ingredients all at your service. The deserved national acclaim they're beginning to receive may mean that the days of being able to walk in any evening and order a 7-course chef's tasting menu, (with or without wine pairing), may be numbered. But if you want a "sometimes it doesn't suck to be a grown-up" dining experience, go do that. Served by an attractive, knowledgeable and attentive staff, this is dining you won't get elsewhere within 120 miles; a couple hours of chefs using their imaginations and unique skills to honor vegetables, herbs, and proteins they've raised themselves, and to honor your wish to experience and celebrate the food as well. It's just really, really good.
(5)John C.
This is just about the best dining experience you can have in Bloomington Normal. Super service and the menu is so unique. Highly recommend the nested egg salad to start.
(5)Crystal F.
The food is delicious and it's great to know where it's coming from. I've been out to the farm and even met some of the people who work there and in the restaurant. The service is tremendous as well. It's often a quiet atmosphere for dinner on week nights. And they make the best cocktails in town!
(5)Julia S.
This place always makes you happy. Service is amazing, food is always perfect. It's farm to fork. We started with mixed greens, nested eggs and pickled veggies. Then we each tried a different entree. I tried everyones and they all were cooked with perfection. Duck with risotto, chicken, teriyaki steak and homemade pasta. I don't know any other place in Bloomington/Normal that will take the time or that know how to make homemade pasta. I would like to see them incorporate fruit that is in season into pies.
(5)Mark And Connie D.
Had another wonderful meal Epiphany Farms last night. The cucumber and goat cheese salad may have been the best I've ever tasted (and I am not a big cucumber eater). Such amazing flavors! The pulled pork and broccoli was exceptional. Service was very much on par with the quality of the food.
(5)Z Z.
wow. shared a mix of plates: butternut squash soup (poured at the table)YUM, Korean bbq chicken appetizer (big portion, saved and repurposed with a home cooked meal the following night!), spinach vegetable pasta (a few single wide noodles). ALL three dishes were out of this world. You can taste the farm fresh culinary awesomeness that goes into their dishes. I had a champagne cocktail that was refreshing and a great compliment to our winter veggie dishes -- my main squeeze had a manhattan with a huge ball of ice,(similar to his own death star at home ice sphere maker) that they brought a fresh cocktail to the table and poured another cocktail. Service is the best in the industry -- friendly, offer informative suggestions, water always filled up (essential for proper water to cocktail ratio up keeping). Can't wait to go back in the spring as their menu changes with the season to stay true to what IS in growing season. love love love. ONLY suggestion is more veggie dishes that are not pasta. GO THERE NOW, silly! If you are like me, I only like to spend hard earned money for meals I cannot replicate at home and/or want to treat myself.
(5)Tim B.
First of all due to business I have to eat out a lot, not bragging about that just saying I have sampled everything in the Bloomington Illinois area. When I want to take my wife or a client someplace special I choose Epiphany Farms. As several folks have stated the food is excellent. I appreciate the ever changing fresh menu and the bar service is awesome. However, for my money it is not the food as much as the excellent service. The folks at EF are very well trained and passionate about their product. Always able to suggest the perfect wine, after dinner scotch, or desert. The last time my wife and I visited I asked the waiter to just bring us a desert that we would like......no regrets! Mike is one of our favorite waiters, but they are all awesome. If you do not eat out much and need a special experience, or you want dinner to be an event, you can't go wrong with EF.
(5)R G.
I met a couple of coworkers here. I had the pulled pork shoulder and it was really good, the serving was a little small, but I really liked it. The staff was very friendly and service was efficient.
(5)Peggy B.
I can't wait to go back to Epiphany Farms! It was without a doubt the best dining experience in the area! Food,staff and ambience were all exceptional! Our party of three dined happily on Scallops, Lamb Shank and Steak after thoroughly enjoying a delicious tomato and cucumber salad! Our server, wish I could remember his name, was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Epiphany Farms is a most welcome change from the multitude of chain restaurants! It will be nice to enjoy this level of dining without traveling to Chicago or Saint Louis!
(5)Jason T.
Service was very informative and mostly attentive. We went the BYO route as the wine list, while well curated, didn't have anything that currently jumped out at me. Corkage was very fair - $10 per bottle. We had two appetizers that were both great - the pork belly wraps and the roasted root veggies wrapped in bacon. The pork belly had tremendous flavor and a great consistency. The root vegetables were roasted perfectly, and contrasted against the crunch of the bacon. Our entrees were nice. One was great; the day's pork preparation was pork in pierogi. The pork was so tender and flavorful, and all the accompaniments accented it beautifully. The duck was good but less stellar. The duck itself was nice, and really worked well with the vegetables it was served with. However the dish could have really benefited from a bit of brightness; i.e. a pickle of some sort of perhaps a sauce with a touch of citrus or vinegar. As it was it was a bit heavy. We did however order a side of the pickled vegetables and that saved the day. My one pet peeve was service slowed down a bit later in the meal, and in fact the dessert drink I ordered showed up well after the dessert, which should never happen. That said, I'm very excited about Epiphany Farms. It's easily the best restaurant in all of the Bloomington-Normal area. The restaurant is really trying to achieve a level of service we just don't see anywhere else in town, the food is tremendous, and the wine list is looked great as well.
(4)Lisa G.
Great atmosphere, loved the music. Played a lot of soul and Motown. The food was excellent too. Tried the stuffed chicken, it was delicious. Great flavor with some crunch, softness and sauce. Definitely recommend. Got their house made peach creme brûlée which came with fresh berries and homemade marshmallows. It was awesome. The bartender was really friendly and very attentive. They close kind of early but have an upstairs that's kind of an Asian fusion style place open later. I didn't get to check that spot out but may try to if I'm in Bloomington again.
(5)Jen R.
Food and service was amazing. Had Pork (which they raise on their own farm) three ways, with the very freshest of vegetables. I would highly recommend!
(5)Jim O.
This is the best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal, hands down. My wife and I have been going here for special meals since it was called "Station 220". I'm glad they decided to rename and promote the fact they're farm-to-fork. The way I see it, this place IS a farm with a classy veneer that happens to be run by exceedingly talented and creative chefs who want to invite you in and show you what a farm is capable of. If you could see the amount of love they put into cultivating and transforming this food, you'd be amazed. While you generally get what you pay for when it comes to food, everyone has had over-priced meals at seemingly good restaurants. This is not that. This is expensive to be sure, but right-priced. In fact, my wife and I had our most expensive meal here a few years back. It was Valentine's day and we attended for the special Valentine's Day 8-course tasting meal. It was a wonderful, 2.5 hour experience full of right-portioned and exciting food. My wife enjoyed the wine pairings (the 20+ year-aged tawny port was especially good), I had cocktails because I'm more of a craft beer and whisky guy myself. It was worth every penny. Can't recommend this place enough. Their sister restaurant, Anju Above, is also well worth your time, but that's another review.
(5)Ted W.
Brian, our server, knowledgeably lead us through choices of cuisine and spirits. He was less of a waiter and more of a raconteur, spinning tales of how this was raised and how that was aged. We probably bought more items then necessary based on his recommendation. My wife started out with an old fashioned with Bookers whiskey. It smelled marvelous. We sampled the croissants with the squash soup (a pairing Brian suggested). I had the Epiphany pork feature which was a fork tender pork filet with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin accompanied by root veggies. At Brian's suggestion I added the mushrooms, a mix of crimini and oyster with a dash of red wine. My wife sampled the beef filet paired with the scallops. The scallops were divine, subtle, tender, perfectly cooked. We ended with the chocolate mousse and angel food cake. I've seen some complaints that this isn't the best restaurant in Chicago or NYC. They are absolutely correct. This is on par with an establishment like Chi-town's perennial virant.
(5)Katie B.
There is no other restaurant like this in Bloomington. The menu is fresh and inspired. The unique dishes fulfill in flavor. The quality and taste of the food is excellent and they have a full drink menu. Great for a special occasion or nice dinner out.
(5)Joe H.
Best restaurant in Bloomington hands down. I recently dined in and loved my whole experience. Warm greeting right when you walk in the door makes you feel at home. Ordered the Rock Shrimp Tempura and loved every bite! It was not overly greasy and didn't have an over powering batter taste. Fresh tomato and cucumber salad from the farm was another highlight of the night. Finished off my meal with the seared scallops that were cooked to perfection. Combined with the risotto it was an amazing dish. I can't get over how great the food and service were. This is the place to go if you want to have a great culinary experience. Saw some table side demonstrations in the dining room as well. I will be back for more farm to fork!
(4)Morgan S.
This is hands down the best restaurant in Bloomington-Normal. I wish I could give them 10 stars, 5 for food and 5 for service! This would be mine and my fiancé 3rd time dinning here in the last year and we are never disappointed. Each time we have done the 7 course blind tasting with wine pairing, and each time we were throughly satisfied. In terms of service we have dined with Mike 2 out of 3 of our visits- HIGHLY recommend requesting him! Mike is the most friendly and knowledgable waiter and is dedicated to giving his guests the highest dinning experience. Such a great restaurant and a gem to find in central Illinois. Huge fans of this restaurant and would recommend anyone who loves in town or traveling through to give them a try!
(5)Erin S.
Love this place! Fine food and great service. Brian is our favorite server...we always ask for him. Recommend the cornflake chicken wings...
(5)Doug F.
Decided to try this place based on a recommendation from a friend who went there when it was called Station Two Twenty. Made a reservation for 7:30, but the table wasn't ready until 8. They were accommodating through and let us put appetizer order in ahead of time to be ready when we were finally seated. Overall the food was delicious. For appetizers we got the seared tuna, the picnic platter, and tempura. Everyone was hesitant on the picnic platter as many of us didn't know what to expect with the different textures of meat, but in the end enjoyed it. For the main course I ordered the whole duck, which I was told consisted of a wing and thigh. When the meal came out it looked like one small piece so I asked the waiter and sure enough that was the whole meal. They should change their menu from whole duck to whole duck-ling cause that would be more appropriate. I would go back and try another meal, but for now 3 stars.
(3)Charles D.
Recently had dinner with friends at Epiphany Farms in Bloomington, IL, and WOW was it an experience. Not only was the food fresh and delicious, but our server 'Mike' was probably the best server I have ever had in a restaurant setting. I would HIGHLY recommend Epiphany Farms to anyone in the Bloomington/Normal area looking for excellent food, excellent service, and all together a great dining experience. They will certainly have my business again! Cheers!
(5)Jon N.
Everything about his place is outstanding...food, drink (Manhattan's) and ambiance. Definitely will be back.
(5)Paige R.
What a pleasant surprise getting to dine at the restaurant! When I traveled to Bloomington for business, I was dismayed that the city seemed to only have "chain" restaurants in the farmlands of America. Then, I came across this fine establishment where the food served is grown and raised on a farm nearby! It was one of the most memorable meals that I have ever had. The gazpacho was divine and the beef tasted like pure beef. The flowers used as garnishment made it even more special. I knew that I was in for a treat when the servers said that everything on the menu was delicious and that I couldn't go wrong. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and made each dish that they described sound exciting and a must have. I sure hope that my company sends me back to Bloomington!
(5)Deborah F.
We highly recommend dining at Epiphany Farms Restaurant. The food is amazing, and as fresh as you will ever get. The employees are some of the warmest, nicest people I've ever met. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. All the servers are excellent, but we are especially fond of Mike. His knowledge of wine is extensive and always knows what to pair with our food. The chefs/owners often send something unexpected to the table as a little treat, and stop by the table to chat with the patrons. Go and enjoy this wonderful restaurant, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Will M.
After reading a positive article in the Chicago Tribune, my wife and I drove over an hour to dine at Epiphany Farms. From beginning to end, it was outstanding! Mike, our server, was knowledgeable and more than willing to answer our questions about the menu. In fact, all the staff were positive and competent. The atmosphere was classy but comfortable. Most importantly, the food was top-notch. It was clear from the first bites that the chefs were skilled and creative and really cared about presenting a fine meal. The food was fabulous from the corn voulete at the beginning to the creme brûlée at the end. My wife enjoyed her filet, which was a very generous half portion. I thought the confit duck leg was the best duck I've had in my life and I'm no spring chicken. Even some small touches were done right, e. g. the ice cube in my bourbon was one large rock. Ephiphany Farms is well worth the trip. We'll be back and we'll tell our friends.
(5)Kaitlyn H.
From the moment I stepped into Epiphany Farms, I knew I was in for a dining experience. The service throughout the entire meal was fantastic and the food was even better! After being greeted and seated, my friend and I were given an overview of the menu and the restaurant's primary objective, to bring farm fresh ingredients to the table in new and exciting ways. Our server, Mike, then suggested that we try an assortment of dishes and share them to get the full experience. We began with the Crab Oscar and the Eggplant Zucchini. Both arrived at the same time, and I must say, were beautifully plated. The Eggplant was my favorite of the two. It was basically a deconstructed vegetable lasagna. For our main courses, we chose the scallops with risotto, kale, lemon foam, and carrots and the lamb shank with couscous. The lamb shank was HUGE and the meat fell right off the bone. Scallops were cooked perfectly which, from my experiences with seafood in this town, is not something that many restaurants are capable of. The manager came to ask about our experience and told us more about the restaurant/farm. He then told us we must try the corn soup, and I'm glad he convinced us. It was light and sweet and refreshing after such flavorful entrees. The flourless chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and blueberries and a scoop of ice cream with crushed peanuts may have converted me from a savory food lover to a sweet one. It was the perfect end to the meal. I am still dreaming of this dessert! Hands down the best restaurant in Bloomington/Normal. I will be going back again, and again, and again!
(5)Azsure D.
We had a very enjoyable experience at Epiphany Farms. I highly recommend dining at this restaurant featuring some locally sourced and sustainable options. Staff is exemplary (they seem to hire and well represent diversity- a big plus in my book). The food is creative and artfully presented. While this is one of the priciest locations in the Bloomington-Normal area, the prices are well justified and truly not that bad for the fare involved. My husband and I enjoyed Friday evening dining out on the patio- it was a stunning night! We went for the 7 course tasting menu and we were not sorry! Each course was amazing. We started with honeydew sorbet as an amuse bouche. Followed by a delightful salad with fresh greens that weren't too bitter. The soup was my absolute favorite- the cauliflower veloute was like velvet in my mouth. We had a scallop risotto next, followed by duck confit, then a beef serving. We had two desserts- a chocoloate mint macaron with a shooter of lemonade, followed by strawberrry shortcake with just made creme fraiche. I was stuffed but I ate every last bite! And it was worth it. They don't have a lot of vegetarian options, and the ones they have are mushroom heavy. I recommend with all those root vegetables they look at expaneding their vegetarian menu. They have a GREAT draft beer selection (always important in my book!). I eat out a lot with my travels. It is so great to come back home and still enjoy the ability to dine with such exquisite options!
(5)Carol D.
Really wonderful food and service. Everything is as local as possible The kids menu quotes "the Omnivores Delma"!
(5)Amy H.
I can't believe we haven't eaten here before. My sister is in town from Phoenix and had found the restaurant through online reviews. My husband and I don't eat out often but we were completely wowed by the food last night. After a nice large chilled water bottle was set on the table we received fresh fruit bread with butter. We began with the Nested Egg - a really crisp outer phyllo later over a soft cooked egg. That was presented over the half order Field Greens. We really studied the flavors as the strawberry vinaigrette was a nice light dressing that we both would love to duplicate at home. My sister ordered the pulled pork shoulder - served over cornbread (the only real "heavy" food item) which also had roasted vegetables on the side. Hubby ordered the duck breast which we all sampled. The "sweet potato" was a mashed purple potato - turned out to be a nice presentation, so different than anything we had experienced. Also had the scallops on the side which were presented over a bit of cooked kale & turnips. I opted for the beet salad with hanger steak. The flavors were so bright, the steak was cooked just as I requested - medium rare. Even though we were full we did cave in and ordered the dessert of a gluten free coco genache that had coconut ice cream on the side...oh so good It's so nice to know that most all of our food was grown locally
(5)Nancy A.
This was honestly one my top 10 meals....ever!!! We reserved a table 7 to celebrate my daughter's IWU graduation. We were seated quickly and the server immediately introduced himself. We ordered a bottle of bubbly and wine after which he provided appetizer and dinner suggestions. We ordered quite a few appetizers and each one was delicious. Everything was beautifully presented and delicious. The dinners were amazing. My mother kept saying it was the best meal of her life! I cannot believe a place of this high caliber is in Bloomington. My only regret is that we didn't discover it until graduation weekend! Perfect little restaurant.
(5)Samantha G.
This is my favorite restaurant in town. Try the corn flake chicken - you won't be disappointed. The service is a little slow, but the food makes up for it!
(5)Margaret B.
Fantastic meal!! Visiting from New York. One of the best meals I ever had. Would highly recommend this farm to table - they are obviously passionate about the food.
(5)Bfish F.
This is by far one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. This past weekend I hosted my Mom's 60th Birthday, and everything was perfect. The service was exceptional and they took SUCH good care of us (Chas was our server)...the food was outstanding (I had the squash soup, field green salad, and duck entrée), drink menu was superb which even offered some locally brewed beer (had cider and wheat beer). The restaurant accommodated all of our requests, even to the point of customizing a few unique entrees based on the requests of a few people in our party. Honestly I would go so far as to say this is one of the best restaurants I have been to ever! I walked away beaming at how wonderful the evening was for my Mom, and so happy I selected Epiphany Farms as the location for her celebration. I can't wait to come back and try more things on the menu!!!!!! Doesn't get any better!
(5)Marina V.
This farm-to-table place is amazing, and I wish I could give more than 5 stars!!! Found it solely based on excellent Yelp reviews (thanks, Yelpers!), and Epiphany Farms exceeded my already high expectations. There are only a handful of restaurants of this caliber in this country. This is now on my top 5 restaurant list (and I am a food snob who lives in Los Angeles, haha). Every dish is prepared with utmost care (the chef must have the most delicate palate!). My husband and I split the Bacon Wrapped Bistro Filets (that came with insanely delicious potatoes gratin). The meat was very delicate & flavorful, one of the best I have ever had. We also had field greens salad (fantastic house-made dressing!) and pork dumpling soup (my husband said it was the best dumpling he's ever had). Loved the wine selection. We had a glass of the Red Blend from Monterey, CA (a GSM blend), and a glass of a Paso Robles cabernet. If only we had room for dessert, we would have gotten their chocolate soufle. And, almost forgot! Most ingredients come from their own farm (where you can take a tour - I so wish we were in town on a Saturday when they do these tours!) and they even mill their own grains and make their own bread - OUTSTANDING!! To sum up: I am a fan (can't you tell?). The decor & the vibe, the attentive staff and attention to detail makes this place very special. A gem. Prices are very reasonable. We need more places like this, not only in Central Illinois, but everywhere. P.S. We tried to come back the next day for early lunch and ended up at Anju Above (which was also outstanding). Love supporting places like this. Yay for Epiphany Farms!!
(5)Bonnie H.
What a great restaurant. The food was wonderful. It is a good place to eat. My filet was awesome. Great atmosphere to. I would highly recommend it.
(5)Pete R.
Nobody does what these people do on a nightly basis food or drink-wise in this town. When you factor in the farm-to-table aspect, it's really not really even close. I would definitely start with Epiphany Farms, but as I alluded to in that review, they are doing some unique things upstairs at Anjou Above too. The best part is that you can get either menu (incl beer and wine) at both places!
(4)Chris P.
Epiphany Farms might be the best restaurant in the Bloomington-Normal area. I give it a solid 9.6 out of 10. The service is world class and the staff is highly trained. The chefs are supremely talented and have put genuine thought into their offerings. The menu is well balanced but not for the rustic palate as many of its offerings deliver robust but complex flavors. The menu is one of the more expensive in the area at about $30-$60 per person. There is even a tasting menu at $76 and can be paired with wine for for an additional $34 for you true foodies. Despite the price tag, I promise you get what you pay for. (Details to follow) Our primary server (Mike) was a true master of his craft. He was knowledgeable, courteous, and friendly. The rest of the front of the house was impeccable from the pre-bussing, the expediter who presents each course, and the other staff. One minor misstep is that one of the other servers spilled some water when she bumped by girlfriend's glass (a minor point) The wine list is extensive and well paired, but we did not partake. We ordered the smoked bacon and roots (date glazed bacon wrapped root vegetables) as our appetizer and it did not disappoint. The bacon was cooked well but not crispy, and the carrots were cooked perfectly with just slight firmness but still soft. I believe the other root was turnip and it was perfectly soft and did not carry any bite. The chef also sent out a complementary plate of their Asian fusion Corn Flake chicken tenders, probably due to my beautiful date. The tenders were perfectly fork tender and breaded to perfection. The breading was light and crispy and with no oily residue. The sweet and sour sauce placed on the plate and gently over the chicken was perfectly in proportion and didn't mess the plate. The sauce was a perfect balance of a pineapple reduction and red chili paste or Siracha. I also ordered the pork dumpling soup. The dish is served with dumplings and vegetables (poached radish) in the bowl and the expediter poured the broth (fortified beef I believe) table side. The ground pork shoulder in the dumpling is robust and very flavorful. The noodle of the dumpling was either slightly under-cooked or a bit old as the noodle did not cut easily with a spoon and made the soup difficult to eat (another minor point). The beef broth was flavorful and but clean and was a great pallet cleanser. The complimentary bread also brought a standard dining staple to another level. There were two offerings for bread this evening. The first offering was a subtle honey wheat, and the other as a dried cranberry. Both were served with a seasoned whipped butter and they paired perfectly together. I ordered the full size confit duck leg (also came in 1/2 portion). The leg was presented with sauteed Brussels sprouts and bacon, and roasted heirloom potatoes all in the same bowl. When all of the following items are combined onto the same fork, the resulting mouthful produces a profound impact of flavor that redefines what food can be in the region. The duck was decadently rich, soft, and slightly greasy (as all duck can be). The flavor profile of the duck was sweet, peppery, and is unmatched in the area; my mouth waters just writing about it three hours after the fact. My only complaint with the duck is that there was a small portion of the thigh where the fat didn't render making that piece of skin inedible but the piece was so small that I wouldn't say it deterred from the dish. My date ordered the half portion of scallops served with risotto, farm carrots, and topped with tamarind foam (a rare sight in central Illinois). Admittedly, I am not a big fan of tamarind as it can go from weak to overpowering quickly. However, the foam provided the perfect amount of flavor without over-seasoning any single portion. The carrots and risotto were cooked perfectly but were otherwise unremarkable. My only complaint with the dish comes from the freshness of the scallops as they carried a subtle fishy flavor (probably undetectable except to the most discerning pallet). My date also ordered a side of sauteed mushrooms. The mushrooms were sauteed with red wine vinegar and olive oil. The mushrooms were plentiful and are easily shared. The were cooked perfectly, but not game changing. Desert included a fresh berry and creme tartelette. The desert was flavorful and almost too beautiful to eat. The cream was smooth and rich and the berries were perfectly ripe, but the crust of the tartelette was cold and didn't easily yield to a spoon. Ultimately, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and we look forward to bringing friends.
(5)Jean-Paul M.
One of the best meals I've had in Bloomington. I said the same thing the last time I was here. We had the Bruschetta, Corn Flake Chicken (omfg), tomato/cucumber salad and Korean wraps. Everything was super delicious. The service was fantastic. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable and other waiters would make a point to stop by our table to ensure our experience was outstanding. Lastly, the drinks. This place knows how to make a bitchin' Old Fashioned. While this is a simple and classic drink, it's amazing how many bartenders goof this up. To boot, they recalled a drink from several menus ago for my wife. Bonus points. My favorite restaurant in BloNo.
(5)Lisa M.
Nothing bad to say at all. Impeccable food, great drinks, wonderful ambiance. Loved it when it was Stn 220, love it even more as Epiphany. Grab a creme brulee, it's fantastic. Also recommend the small plates - the kimchi pancakes are finger licking good. Pro tip - head over to their farm for a tour! Lots of cute little piglets :D
(5)Hanna R.
We were passing through on our way to St. Louis from Chicago, we got in quick without reservation, the food was wonderful with a great story of how the restaurant began. Great atmosphere with live music and friendly hosts. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and worked great around my food allergies. Fantastic place I would definitely go back if I had the chance!
(5)Jessica S.
Friend, family, coworker, vendor in from out of town? You take them here and only here. Long day? Long week? Want to eat something fantabulous and not feel guilty about it? You go here and only here. Chicago quality tasting menu at a more affordable price point! Take the risk (it's not that risky when it's this good) and do it. The menu changes each season so you must go at least once every 3 months to try the new stuff. Nearly all of it comes from their own farm! They have rotating craft beers available and a big wine selection. If not the tasting menu, you must order the following: - soup. any of them. you had no idea broth could be that good. - salad. any of them. yes with a nested egg. It can't be explained, only devoured. - cornflake chicken appetizer. best korean BBQ sauce around. - the pork feature. no matter what it is. - any of their seafood. i only trust a few places in town when it comes to ocean swimmers and this is the best. So when you decide to go, be sure to call me and invite me to join you!
(5)Marlene H.
The first word that came to mind when I saw these meals tonight: ART! To follow after I tried them: ORGASMIC! This is seriously the best restaurant I have ever eaten at - seriously!!!!! The service was impeccable. Mike was so knowledgeable! Totally farm to table at its best!
(5)Lynn W.
If I had posted my review from my first experience back in June, it would have been 5 stars, but based on my experience this week I have to give it three stars. Let me start by saying both times the food was very good! The first time better than the second, but still very good. However, the service on my most recent visit with completely sub-par. It took over 1 hour from the time we ordered for main meal delivery. It took longer than it should to get our initial drink order. And our waiter didn't see hurried or worried and never once apologized for the delay. I think we were in the place for 2 hours and we didn't even order dessert. When we arrived at 6:15 the place was hardly busy at all, waiters and waitresses just standing around and only a couple people at the bar. The people removing dishes and filling water glasses were extremely prompt and courteous. But again, our waiter was not very efficient, nor apologetic. He also had tables inside and outside the place, which to me is not great planning by management. I would probably give it a try again, but after the menu changes. The August menu was not as appealing as the June menu we had. Atmosphere is nice and the fact is isn't a chain is a big draw.
(3)John G.
**EDIT** Waiters name was Kent. Excellent at his job. Overall, One of the best experiences I have ever had.. The beginning started off rocky. As I walked in the bartender yelled over to me "can I help you?".. Granted I came in before they were open (by 10 minutes). I was promptly seated and provided water and fresh bread, I don't know how water can taste different but it also was exceptional. The waiter came next and explained to me the menu and the restaurant philosophy. Farm to Fork. Exactly the type of place I was looking for. I ordered the heirloom carrots and duck leg. I had some specific questions about how it was prepared and the waiter had all the answers I needed. While I waited for the food I looked around at the decor. It is a wonderful combination of a rural barn type setting with a more upscale setting. Food arrived promptly and it was fabulous! For one person, drinking water, with an entree and separate side the bill was approximately $32.00. Money well spent. I would return, will return, and will be bringing others with me next time I am in Central Illinois.
(5)Rustin F.
I had better food at Epiphany Farms than I've had at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York. Unfortunately, the service wasn't quite five star. I came with my parents for Epiphany Farms' New Year's Eve tasting menu and party. We had a reservation for 9 p.m., mostly so we would be the last seating and be able to keep our table until midnight. Unfortunately, they must have underestimated how long people would stay; we weren't seated until after 9:30 p.m., and then in a somewhat detached, under-decorated back room from where we couldn't hear the band. We chose to do the five course tasting menu, instead of the eight course one, and everything we got was tasty and beautifully presented. They hadn't told us what would be on the menu when we reserved, so it was a bit of a leap of faith, but there wasn't a single unenjoyable course. I particularly enjoyed the deconstructed rocky road ice cream. By the time we finished our meals, we were full. Unfortunately, considering how late we were eating dinner--including the delay in being seated--we were hungry most of the meal, though that may have made the food taste better. That brings me back to the service. Being so hungry, we asked early in our meal if they had any sides or appetizers we could order. No, our waitress said, the kitchen was only making the set menu that night. "How about bread?" we asked. There'd be bread with the soup course, she responded, but they didn't have enough to bring additional bread at the beginning of our meal. They ended up forgetting the bread with our soup, and we had to ask again, again to be told that they couldn't give any "more" bread before realizing that we hadn't received any bread at all, at which point we received one croissant per person. I generally got the sense that our waitress didn't want to be there; she wasn't rude but absent. I actually had trouble catching her to order coffee with my dessert. There was another waiter who helped deliver the food, and he was upbeat and very professional in both the physical presentation of the dishes--the soup course, for instance, came as a bowl with just a few pieces of carrots and ginger in the center around which he ladled the soup from a separate, much larger bowl at the table--and in describing them. At the end of our meal, we moved into the main dining room to get closer to the band, where we took our midnight champagne toast. Overall, it was an excellent, memorable meal. The food was truly world class, but the service came a little short. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Bloomington.
(4)